Bottle capper



Aug. 4, 1931'.

R. SALSBURY BOTTLE QAPPER Filed April 29, 1950 INVENTOR.

RALPH T. SALSBUR $6 A TTORNE Y.

the drawings, referring to Patented Aug. 4, 1931 PATENT OFFICE RALPH T.SALSBURY, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA BOTTLE CAPPER Application filed April29,

This invention relates to improvements in bottle cappers and moreparticularly to machines for crimping crown caps on bottle necks. 7Among the objects of the invention is to provide a simple, sturdy andeffective capper.

Another object is to provide a capper easily adjustable to various sizesof bottles.

A further object is to. provide a uniform capping stroke and applicationof power regardless of the height of the bottle. Other objects willappear as the description progresses.

In this specification and the accompanying drawings, the invention isdisclosed in its preferred form. But it is to be understood that it isnot limited to this form because it may be embodied in other forms. Itis also to be understood that in and by the claims following thedescription it is desired to cover the invention in whatsoever form itmay be embodied.

In the one sheet of drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a bottle capper constructed in accordancewith this invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail of the rack and pinion mechanism partly invertical section on the line IIII, Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a similar view of the same taken on the line III-III, Fig. 2.

In detail the construction illustrated in Fig. 1, comprises the base 1,having the upright standard 2 fixed therein. This base is adapted to befastened to a bench, if required, and is preferably supplied with aresilient rubber pad 3 upon which the bottle X sits.

The upper portion of the standard 2 has the rack teeth 4 milledtransversely therein, from below the head 5 downward a sufficientdistance to accommodate the smaller sizes of bottles. This standard maybe a length of cold rolled rod.

The capping unit comprises a traveler A, preferably an integral casting,having the annular guides 6, 7 encircling the standard This traveler hasthe transverse hubs 8,

9, see Fig. 2. The hub 9 is bored to receive 1930. Serial No. 448,225.

the diameter of the shaft 10, of the pinion l1 milled into the bodythereof. The diameter of the shaft is turned down to form the stem 12fitting the bore in the hub 8, against which the end of the pinion 11abuts.

The stem 12 has a transverse hole therein,

' adjacent its rounded end 13, to receive the bent end 14 of theexpansion spring 15 encircling the stem 12. The opposite bent end 16 ofthis spring engages a socket hole in the hub 8 at 16.

This spring 15 of expansion to seated against performs the dual functionkeep the pinion 11 laterally the hub 8, and the additional function oftorsion to restore the pinion to the inoperative position, after it hasbeen rotated by means of the operating lever 17 extending through thehead 10, and provided with the comfortable handle 17 The torsion of the-spring 15 holds the lever 17 normally against the pin 18 projectingfrom the side of the traveler. The opposite end 17 of the leverprotruding through the head is adapted to stop against the pin 18 toprevent undue strain on the spring 15, such as would unseat either ofits ends 14, 16 from their respective sockets.

The pinion 11 is held in mesh with the rack teeth 4; by the expansion ofthe spring 15. Raising and lowering the lever 17 rotates the pinion toraise and lower the traveler on the standard.

The operating level of the traveler is readily adjustable by graspingthe traveler in the left hand with the end 13 of the stem against thepalm. A slight pressure inward overcomes the tension of the spring 15,disengages the pinion from the rack, permitting the traveler to beraised and lowered at will, with respect to the height of the bottle X.When the pressure is released the spring snaps the pinion 11 back intomesh with the rack 4: at the selected level. The pin 18 should be longenough to retain the lever 17 in upright position during the lateralshifting of the pinion to disengage it from the rack.

The crimping ferrule 19 is screwed onto the threaded stud 20 fixed inthe traveler.

The edge of this ferrule is flanged outwardly lower edge of the ferruleclears to engage the fluted edge X of the crown cap X, to compress thecap about the bead forming the mouth of the bottle, in the conventionalmanner.

If the teeth in the rack A and the pinion 11 are closely fitted and thestraps 6, 7 snugly engage the standard 4,110 of the traveler A isrequirec. If, however, the workmanship is inferior, it may be desirableto mill the slot 21 in. the back of the standard to guide the stud'22fixed in the strap 6 to prevent lateral play of the .traveler A on thestandard.

' The machine operates substantially as fol lows: The filled bottle X isplaced upon the pad 3, the traveler A is lowered until the g the cap Xresting upon the top of the bottle. The handle 18 is then pulled down,which causes the pinion 11 to travel down the rack 4L and coinpress theedge X of the cap within the ferrule, as'describe'd. When the handle 1'8is released;:th-e spring 15 restores it to the position shown in dottedlines Fig.1 leaving both hands :of the operator free to handle thebottles and repeat theopera-tion.

Having thus described this invention, what I claim and desire to secureby Letters Patent is: V

1. A bottle capper comprising a lease; a standard fixed to said baseand' having :a toothed rack thereon; a traveler guided :on saidstandard; a transverse shaftprotruc'ling through said traveler andhaving int'e gral pinion teeth engaging saidrack; means for rotatingsaid shaft; a torsion spring en'- g-aging said shaft and traveler andexpandingbe tween said traveler and the end of said shaft.

2. A bottle cap-per comprising a base; a

standard fixed to said base and having a toothed rack thereon; atraveler guided on said standard; a transverse shaft protruding throughsaid traveler; a pinion on said shaft engaging said rack; a lever fixedin one end of said shaft, and a spring encircling said shaft having itsopposite ends engaging sai'd shaft and traveler respectively;

A bottle capper comprising a standard having rack teeth therein; atraveler guided on said standard and having capping means thereon; atransverse shaft protruding through said traveler-and having pinionteeth engaging said rack teeth; a lev'er'on said shaft; a stop on saidtraveler engaging said lever; a torsion spring engaging said shaft andtraveler and expanding between said traveler and the end of said shaft.7

4. A bottle capper comprising a reund standard having. rack teeththerein; a tr-av eler encircling said standard and having capping meansthereon; av transverse shaft having. a reduced stem and protrudingthrough said traveler and having pinion teeth engaging said rackteeth;'a stop pin further g n projecting from said traveler; a leverextending through said shaft and adapted to engage both sides of saidstop pin respectively; a torsion spring encircling said stem and havingits ends engaging said stem and traveler respectively and expandingbet-ween said traveler and the end of said stem.

A bottle capper comprising a round standard having rack teeth thereinand a longitudinal slot therein; a traveler encircling said standard andhaving capping means thereon; a transverse shaft having a said traveler;a lever extending through said traveler and having pinion teeth engagingsaid rack teeth; a stop pin projecting from said'trave lerg; 'a leverextending through said shaft and adapted to engage both sides of saidstoop pin respectively; torsion spring encircling said stem and havingits ends engaging said stem and travelerrespectively and expandingbetween said traveler and the end of said stem, and a stud on saidtraveler engaging said slot the standard.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 2 1th day of April71:93.0,a

RALPH T. SALS'BURY.

